Dual track transfer system and a transfer car for use therewith

Abstract

A dual track system whereby a transfer car can be turned at least 90° in a minimum amount of space. The track system comprises a first set of parallel railroad-type rails of a standard size and cross section for the wheels of the lead truck of a transfer car and a second set of parallel railroad-type rails of the same size and cross section for the wheels of the following truck of the same transfer car. The first and second sets of rails are parallel to each other and overlapped with the right hand rails of each set lying in close proximity to each other and the left hand rails of each set lying in close proximity to each other. At the point where the transfer car is to begin its 90° turn, the first set of rails has a curved portion which turns laterally away from the second set of rails while the second set of rails continues without direction change, the outside rail of the curved portion crossing one rail of the second set, whereby the lead truck of the transfer car turns and the following truck continues without direction change until the body of the transfer car is turned 90° to its original direction of travel. The invention further contemplates an improved transfer car of the type having a load supporting body mounted on pivot type trucks with standard flanged wheels.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
       1. A dual track transfer system for shifting a transfer car between first and second stations and for turning in a minimum amount of space said transfer car at said second station at least 90° to its direction of travel immediately prior to its turning, said system comprising a transfer car having a body, a lead truck and a following truck both pivotally mounted on said body, said lead and following trucks each having at least four standard flanged wheels, a first set of parallel railroad-type rails, said wheels of said lead truck being mounted on said first set of rails, a second set of parallel railroad-type rails, said wheels of said following truck being mounted on said second set of rails, said first and second sets of rails being parallel to each other and overlapped with the right hand rails of each set lying in close proximity to each other and the left hand rails of each set lying in close proximity to each other, at a point near said second station where said transfer car is to begin said at least 90° turn said first set of rails having a curved portion turning laterally away from said second set of rails with the outside rail of said curved portion crossing that one of said rails of said second set which lies between said rails of said first set, said second set of rails continuing from said point where said transfer car is to begin said turn without direction change whereby said lead truck will follow said curved portion of said first rail set and said following truck will continue on said second rail set until said transfer car has turned said at least 90°, said curved portion of said first track set being of such radius and length that the centerline of said lead truck will lie at an angle of less than 90° to said rails of said second set when said car body has turned said at least 90° and means for shifting said transfer car between said first and second stations along said first and second rail sets. 
     
     
       2. The structure claimed in claim 1 wherein said transfer car is self-propelled. 
     
     
       3. The structure claimed in claim 1 wherein said second set of rails terminates at said second station at a dead end bumper so positioned as to stop said transfer car when the longitudinal centerline of said transfer car body lies at 90° to said second set of rails. 
     
     
       4. The structure claimed in claim 1 wherein both said lead truck and said following truck are individually powered and said second set of rails from said point where said transfer car is to begin said turn is of such length as to permit said car body to achieve a position wherein its longitudinal centerline lies at an angle greater than 90° to said second set of rails, whereby when said transfer car is shifted toward said first station by said lead truck said car body will have turned 180°. 
     
     
       5. The structure claimed in claim 1 wherein said first station is located in the scrap yard building of a steel mill, a scrap box with laterally extending trunnions being mounted on said transfer car, said first station comprising a loading station at which scrap is loaded into said scrap box, said second station being located on the charging floor of a steel mill building containing at least one melting furnace, at least one overhead crane within said furnace building, said second station comprising an unloading station at which said trunnions of said scrap box are engaged by said crane and said scrap box is lifted from said transfer car by said crane and shifted to said furnace for the charging of said scrap into said furnace. 
     
     
       6. The structure claimed in claim 1 including a second dual track transfer system for shifting a second transfer car between said first and second stations and for turning in a minimum amount of space said second transfer car at said second station at least 90° to its direction of travel immediately prior to its turning, said second transfer system comprising said second transfer car having a body with a lead truck and following truck pivotally mounted thereon, each of said lead and following trucks of said second car body having at least four standard flanged wheels, said second system having a first set of parallel railroad-type rails for the wheels of said lead truck of said second transfer car and a second set of parallel railroad-type rails for the wheels of said following truck of said second transfer car, said first and second sets of rails of said second track system being parallel to each other and overlapped with the right hand rails of each set lying in close proximity to each other, at a point near said second station where said second transfer car is to begin said at least 90° turn said first set of rails of said second track system having a curved portion turning laterally away from said second rail set of said second system with the outside rail of said last mentioned curved portion crossing that one of said rails of said last mentioned second rail set which lies between the rails of said last mentioned first rail set, said last mentioned second rail set continuing from said point where said second transfer car is to begin said turn without direction change whereby said second transfer car lead truck will follow said curved portion of said last mentioned first rail set and said second transfer car following truck will continue on said last mentioned second rail set until said body of said second transfer car has turned said at least 90°, said last mentioned curved rail portion being of such length and radius that the centerline of said lead truck of said second transfer car will lie at an angle of less than 90° to said rails of said last mentioned second set when said body of said second transfer car has turned said at least 90° and means for shifting said second transfer car between said first and second stations along said first and second rail sets of said second track system. 
     
     
       7. The structure claimed in claim 4 including a left hand switch and a right hand switch between said right hand rails of said first and second sets and a left hand switch and a right hand switch between said left hand rails of said first and second sets, whereby said lead truck and said following truck may be interchanged between said first and second rail sets permitting said transfer car to be turned 360° on said dual track transfer system. 
     
     
       8. The structure claimed in claim 6 wherein said first and second transfer systems are parallel to each other, said curved portion of said first rail set of each of said first and second transfer systems turning toward the other of said first and second transfer systems without intersecting it. 
     
     
       9. The structure claimed in claim 8 wherein said first and second transfer cars are self-propelled. 
     
     
       10. The structure claimed in claim 8 wherein each said second rail sets of each of said first and second transfer systems terminates in a dead end bumper so positioned as to stop the respective one of said first and second transfer cars when the longitudinal centerline of its car body lies at 90° to the rails of its respective one of said second rail sets.